We’ve just finished another semester at school. Three down, one to go. This latest semester dealt with all aspects of portrait photography – fashion, glamour, lifestyle, environmental, figure studies. Also a touch of small product work to get us ready for next term. Now that we’re done, I find myself reflecting on what I’ve learned. Most importantly, I seek the answer to a very basic question: has the experience made me more interested in photographing people?
I recently completed an assignment that required a High Dynamic Range (HDR) final image. This image blended an outdoor background with a studio foreground subject. Both were processed using HDR capture and develop techniques. I think the result turned out well, don’t you?
Continue reading “The Appeal of High Dynamic Range (HDR) – Or Not”
Photography is a tough business to be in. The advent of cellphone cameras has meant the demise of staff photographers on many publications or even the demise of the actual publications.
Most often, photography jobs are contract or freelance, paid by the job or image, or not paid at all. The business owner who might need a few pictures for publicity doesn’t understand why these cost hundreds of dollars. Often they wonder if the photographer should be paying them, for the opportunity to publish the work and be noticed. Continue reading “The Business Side of Photography – My First Year as a Photographer”
As the next college year approaches, I’ve been thinking about what I’ve learned so far about photography, both in and out of the classroom. All the technical and operational basics, for sure, along with lots of creative details that more experience and practice will make stronger. It’s been a great year.
But there is one thing I continue to struggle with overall – it’s simply vision, in all its many forms. That includes seeing clearly as my old eyes dim with time, developing a personal style and creative direction for my work overall, and maybe most puzzling, understanding how the camera, lighting and all of the other gear can be fully exploited to fulfill that vision.
Continue reading “Seeing Like the Camera – My First Year as a Photographer”
The airwaves and Internet are full of opinions on the value of brand name equipment for photographers. There are opinions on cameras and lenses, lighting, accessories to support both brand names and competitors. There are even opinions on small niche providers who build products to make a photographer’s life easier (bags, stands, organizing systems, even online services). And of course, lots of stories on saving money by making due with what’s on location or in the environment around you. You don’t always need to buy. So how do you choose when it comes time for a new investment in gear? 
Continue reading “Brand Name Equipment or Not?”
Every once in a while, if we are lucky, we have an ah-hah moment. In my case, having retired from an unrelated career, I’ve been wondering just how far I could take my photography, both artistically and commercially. It’s always been apparent that this field is highly competitive. It was less apparent that the value of professional photography had diminished over time, what with the proliferation of both on-the-spot cellphone professionals and software that can make almost any image look professional.
Then I met Joe McNally. Well, at least met him online.
This week, Adobe announced the latest iteration of its leading creative software, aptly named Creative Cloud.
As a relatively new user of the creative suite of tools, particularly those tools devoted to photography, I’ve had to adjust the way I learn and adapt to new software in order to get comfortable with these products. Here’s why.
Continue reading “A New User Perspective on Adobe Creative Cloud”
A few days ago, I joined a group of enthusiastic photographers at the Port Perry waterfront to try out a new device. It’s called “The Pixelstick“. It’s a device that takes light painting to the next level. It uses a long wand-like structure attached to a digital memory to essentially scroll bands of light or fully formed images across space as you move it.
Many people find it hard to find the one thing they want to do with their time that makes them happy. For some, they know from an early age that they will be a doctor, lawyer, baker, etc. I never knew. Still don’t. But I do love photography. Over the past year, I’ve immersed myself in it, studied it, practiced it. But it’s been a bit of a hard road. Continue reading “Isn’t It Ironic?”
Now that school is done for the year, you might ask how I’m filling my time. My tag line is “I’m Not Happy Unless I’m Learning”. True to that saying, I’ve been seeking out opportunities to grow as a photographer and person, and I had two perfect examples this weekend.
Continue reading “My Ideal Weekend – Photo Shoot One Day, Photo Course The Next”
Fine Art, Architecture, Landscape and Event Photography
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